Liquid-return system.



PATENTED APR; 25, 1905.

H. L. HEPBURN.

LIQUID RETURN SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 20. 1904.

' return-pipes are led.

HARRY L. HEPBURN,

Patented April 25, 1905.

PATENT OFFICE.

or NEW YORK, N. ,Y.

LIQUID-RETURN SYSTEM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 788,314, dated April25, 1905.

Application filed August 20, 1904. $erial No. 221,488.

T ml], whom, it may concern- Be it known that I, HARRY L. HEPBURN, acitizen of the United States, residing in the borough of Manhattan, inthe city, county, and State of New York, have invented an Improvement inLiquid-Return Systems for Vapor- Generators, of which the following is aspecification.

My invention relates to a liquid-return system for vapor-generators, andparticularly to a water-return system for steam-generators; and theobject thereof is the provision of means for the readydisposal inapparatus of this class of the unavoidable liquid of condensation andentrainment.

In carrying out my invention I employ a generator, supply-pipes leadingtherefrom, one or more vapor-utilizing devices, a liquidcooled trap,drip-pipes connecting with the said trap, means within the said trap forreceiving and intermittently and automatically discharging the liquid ofcondensation and entrainment into the said trap, means for dischargingthe trap. automatically, and means for conveying feed-water, andpossibly the liquid of condensation, through the trap to the generator.

In the drawings, Figure l is a diagrammatic elevation representing myinvention. Fig. 2 is a vertical section of the liquid-cooled trap, andFig. 3 is a partial section and side elevation of the liquid-receptacleemployed within the trap.

(t represents a steam or other generator, and b a supply-pipe therefromand with its branches leading to a series of radiators 0 or othersteam-utilizing devices, and (Z the drip or return pipes from thesteam-utilizing devices.

e represents a drip-pipe connecting the supply-pipe b and the maindrip-pipe, and f is a liquid-cooled trap into which, as shown, the

f preferably comprises a cylindrical body portion 2 and base and capmembers 3 4, respectively, which are connected to the body portion 2 inany suitable manner.

represents a receptacle pivotal] y mounted in suitable supports in thecap member 4 and The liquid-cooled trap directly beneath the point ofentrance of the drip-pipes d. This receptacle 5 is so mounted andweighted that when empty its center of gravity is below its pivot and itremains upright, but when filling its center of gravity rises above itspivot to a point where overbalanced the receptacle turns and becomesautomatically self-emptying, righting at once after discharging itscontents.

I provide the base member 3 with a discharge-valve 6, having a rod 7, tothe end of which is secured a ball-float 8. I also employ a pipe-coil 9,through which the feed to the generator is passed independently of thecontents of the trap, which pipe is therefore preferably connected to asuitable feed-pump 10 by a pipe 11, which connects with the lower end ofthe pipe-coil, while the upper end of the pipe-coil is connected to thegenerator by means of the pipe connection 12. I may also employ a tank13, to which the pipe 14: is led from the discharge of the trap, andthis tank 13 is preferably connected to the suction 15 of the pump 10 bymeans of a pipe 16.

In the operation of the apparatus the water or other liquid ofcondensation is all conveyed to the trap, being first received in thereceptacle 5, which when filled to overbalancing empties itself into thebody portion proper of the trap, and thence is automatically dischargedthrough the valve 6 by the operation of the rod and float-ball 8, andthe comparatively cold feed liquid passing through the coil 9, whileappreciably heated, still main tains a relatively low temperature withinthe trap at all times.

It is to be understood that the drip-pipe 6 may be connected directly tothe trapf, that the drip-pipes (i need not necessarily be connected tothe trap f, and that instead of returning the discharge from the trap tothe pump suction the discharge may be led to a sewer or elsewhere, asfound expedient.

I claim as my invention- 1. The combination with a generator, ofsupply-pipes leading therefrom, one or more vapor-utilizing devices, aliquid-cooled trap, drip-pipes leading from the vapor-utilizing devicesand the supply-pipes to said trap, and

means for passing the generator-feed through said trap and cooling thesame independently of the contents of the trap.

2. The combination with a generator, of a supply-pipe leading therefrom,one or more vapor-utilizing devices, a liquid-cooled trap, dripepipesleading to said trap, a drip-pipe leading from the said supply-pipe tothe said trap, means within said trap for receiving and discharging theliquid of condensation and entrainment into said trap, and means forautomatically discharging said trap.

3. The combination with a generator, of a supply-pipe leading therefrom,one or more vapor-utilizing devices, a liquid-cooled trap, aself-emptying pivotally-mounted receptacle therein, a discharge-valve, arod and ballfloat within said trap and connected to saiddischarge-valve, and a pipe-coil also within said trap and through whichthe cooling fluid is conveyed, drip pipes leading to said trap and adrip-pipe leading from the said supplypipe to the said trap.

4. The combination with a generator, of a supply-pipe leading therefrom,one or more vapor-utilizing devices, a liquid-cooled trap, aself-emptying pivotally-mounted receptacle within the same, adischarge-valve, a rod and ball-float within said trap and connected tosaid discharge-valve, a pipe-coil also within said trap and throughwhich the cooling fluid is conveyed, drip-pipes leading fromvaporutilizing devices to said trap, a drip-pipe leading from the saidsupply-pipe to the said trap,- a tank, a feed-pump, and connections fromthe said trap to said tank and from the tank to the feed-pump suction.

5. The combination with a generator, of a supply-pipe leading therefrom,one or more vapor-utilizing devices, a liquid-cooled trap, drip-pipesleading to said trap, a drip-pipe leading from the said supply-pipe tothe said trap, and means for automatically discharging said trap.

6. The combination in a vapor generating and utilizing system, of aliquid-cooled trap, a connection therefrom to the vapor-utilizingdevices, and means for passing the feed-supply for the generator throughsaid trap independent of the contents of the trap.

7. The combination in a vapor generating and utilizing system, of aliquid-cooled trap, a connection therefrom to the vapor-utilizingdevices, means for automatically delivering the condensed vapor into thetrap, and means for passing the feed-supply for the generator throughsaid trap independent of the contents of the trap.

8. The combination in a vapor generating and utilizing system, of aliquid-cooled trap, a connection therefrom to the vapor-utilizingdevices, means for automatically delivering the condensed vapor into thetrap, means for passing the feed -supply for the generator through saidtrap independent of the contents of the trap, and means for removing thecontents of the trap and passing the same with the feed-supply to thegenerator.

Signed by me this 29th day of July, 1904:.

HARRY L. HEPBURN.

Witnesses:

GEO. T. PINGKNEY, S. T. HAVILAND.

